Steelers Knock Off Cardinals 32-20 To Move To 5-2 – Game Recap

The Steelers knocked of the Arizona Cardinals 32-20 today on the road to move to 5-2 on the season.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was 26 of 39 passing for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns to Mike Wallace, Heath Miller and Emmanuel Sanders. Roethlisberger was sacked twice during the game, but did a great job of spreading the ball around to several different receivers including the running backs. The running game produced 91 yards on 28 carries.

Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb was 18 of 34 passing for 272 yards and was sacked twice by outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Woodley also forced a safety on an intentional grounding in the endzone. Woodley also led the team with 7 combined tackles.

The Steelers defense got the game off to a great start as linebacker James Farrior tipped a Kolb pass that ended up being intercepted by free safety Ryan Clark. The Steelers offense took over at the Cardinal 31 yard-line and 5 plays late Roethlisberger hit Miller for a 12 yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

The second Steelers score did not happen until 8:21 left in the first half as Roethlisberger hit Wallace for a 95 yard touchdown down the right side on the first play of the drive.

The Cardinals answered with 13 play, 80 yard drive of their own that culminated with a 1 yard run by Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith. The drive was aided by two 3rd down penalties by Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor.

The Cardinals returned the favor on the Steelers next drive as rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson was flagged twice on the drive and the offense finally had to settle for a Shaun Suisham 41 yard field goal to end the half.

The Cardinals opened up the scoring in the second half as running back LaRod Stephens-Howling took a short pass down the right side for a 73 yard touchdown.

The Steelers again answered with an 11 play, 80 yard drive on their own that featured 8 passes by Roethlisberger and 2 key 3rd down conversions. The drive ended with a 4 yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Sanders in the back of the endzone.

Following the kick-off, Woodley forced Kolb into the safety on the Cardinals first play from their own 7 yard line as Woodley came untouched off the edge.

The Steelers added two more Suisham field goals on the way to closing out the Cardinals.

Cardinals running back Beanie Wells sprained a knee and did not return in the second half and the Steelers defense held the Cardinals to just 73 yards rushing on 19 carries. 14 of which came on 2 scrambles by Kolb. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was held to just 4 catches for 78 yards. He was targeted 10 times on the afternoon.

Although he did not score, Antonio Brown had a huge game as he hauled in 7 catches for 102 yards. He also produced 113 yards in the return game after returning 2 punts for 47 yards and 3 kick-offs for 66 yards.

Steve McLendon made his first career start at nose tackle with both Casey Hampton and Chris Hoke sidelined with injuries and had a solid performance. He finished with 5 total tackles and was second on the team behind Woodley. Farrior also had two tipped balls on the day and Lawrence Timmons had a much better game this week at right outside linebacker in place of James Harrison, who sat out his 3rd straight game with his eye injury.

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin only noted Hines Ward as the only player injured today. Ward suffered an ankle injury and did not return. Tomlin says they will monitor him closely and said he is saving him a seat on the bus next week against the Patriots. Tomlin also said Aaron Smith will need surgery on his neck and that was the reason he was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

A good win. On the Pats. Farrior in the middle of the field vs the New England TE’s is going to be tough to watch. Every team is going to attack us the same way. Spread us out, get one on one coverage with our LB’s vs their RB’s or TE’s. Mike Wallace is amazing. Pro-Bowler? Was it just me or did our offense look BETTER?!? once Hines left the game?

Tann84

I swear next week, we need to kidnap rob ryan for the pats game. AT least use tape from the Dallas vs. Pats game to see what they did to hold brady down.

Our offense needs to roll on their defense, we need another 30 pt game.

We can’t blitz brady and shouldn’t try, just stop the run and get pressure with at most 4 guys. If we can get sacks from our D-line that will bode well. I say, put Hood and Heyward and Keisel out there and tell them stay in your gap but go get the QB.

The less Foote and Farrior and Gay are on the field the better, the former two are too slow and the latter is too small.

Emil

Anyone else notice how many time Polamalu could have made a interception this season but didn’t? He also seem to make one crucial mistake every game.

Thomas

good win. seriously though..come on Kimo, how many times are you going to take that same stupid blatant penalty? You cant cream people on the ground, tempting as it may be.

Man this week coming up is gona be tough, gona need some edge rush and to have timmons in coverage among other things just to keep it close…Pats not necessarily a much better team but the stylistic match up disadvantage is undeniable.

Shannon Stephenson

I believe this is Hines last year…he seems to be struggling getting open and when he does get a catch a defensive guy seems to wrapped around him.

Joe D

To the Steeler Depot Moderator… You need a link set up for 2012 salary cap preview…

Reason, I think Steelers may have learn a lesson with Aaron… time to have Hampton, Hoke, Ward, Farrior retire. Put Kiesel at NT… he has 2 more years left and the 2 young guns at DE.

Will they be able to sign Wallace??? I think he will be a RFA.

Kevin

I am interested in reading about how Cortez Allen played in coverage. I noticed him in there at times when the Cards went with 4 or 5 wide. I think that it is a very good sign that he is on the field on defense as of Week 7 of his rookie year. We will need help with all of the receivers that New England can throw to next week.

fire arians

foote and farrior havent i agree hasn’t played well, but gay has been solid so far this year.